biographical and reminiscent history of clay county, illinois, 1909
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I B RARYOF THE
UNIVERSITYOF ILLINOIS
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BIOGRAPHICAL
AND
REMINISCENT HISTORY
OF
HIGHLAND, CLAY -MARION COUNTIES
ILLINOIS
ILLUSTRATED
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, PublishersINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
1909
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PREFACE,
All life and achievement is evolution; present wisdom comes frorh pastexperience, and present commercial prosperity has come only from past exer-tion and suffering. The deeds and motives of the men that have gone beforehave been instrumental in shaping the destinies of later communities and
states. The development of a new country was at once a task and a privilege.It required great courage, sacrifice and privation. Compare the present con-ditions of the residents of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois, with
what they were one hundred years ago. From a trackless wilderness and
virgin prairie they have come to be centers of prosperity and civilization, withmillions of wealth, systems of intersecting railways, grand educational in-
stitutions, marvelous industries and immense agricultural productions. Can
any thinking person be insensible to the fascination of the study which dis-
closes the incentives, hopes, aspirations and efforts of the early pioneers whoso strongly laid the foundation upon which has been reared the magnificent
prosperity of later days ? To perpetuate the story of these people and to traceand record the social, political and industrial progress of the community fromits first inception is the function of the local historian. A sincere purposeto preserve facts and personal memoirs that are deserving of preservation,and which unite the present to the past is the motive for the present publication.The work has been in the hands of able writers, who have, after much patient
*7. study and research, produced here the most complete biographical memoirs of
Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois ever offered to the public. Es-
pecially valuable and interesting are the sketches of representative citizens of< these counties whose records deserve perpetuation because of their worth, ef-
^> fort and accomplishment. The publishers desire to extend their thanks to
(ti these gentlemen who have so faithfully labored to this end. Thanks are also
j__^clue to the citizens of Richland, Clay and Marion counties for the uniform
57kindness with which they have regarded this undertaking, and for their many
^ services rendered in the gaining- of necessary information.In placing the "Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay
and Marion Counties, Illinois." before the citizens, the publishers can con-
scientiously claim that they have carried out the plan as outlined in the pros-
pectus. Every biographical sketch in the work has been submitted to theUyd party interested, for correction, and therefore any error of fact, if there be
-^ any, is solely due to the person for whom the sketch was prepared. Confident
-)that our efforts to please will fully meet the approbation of the public, we are.
Respectfully,
THE PUBLISHERS.
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NDEX
Allen, Hon. James Cameron
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Ingram, William CIrwin, Walter CJames, O. AJennings, Charles E. . .
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JO
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HON. W. J. BRYAN.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
BY PROF. J. H. G. BRINKERHOFF.
William Jennings Bryan, son of Silas L.
Bryan (see biography) and Mariah Eliza-
beth (Jennings) Bryan, was born in Salem,
Illinois, March 19, 1860. As a boy he was
not different from other healthy, hearty
American boys, fond of play and fond of
good things to eat, but rather given to seri-
ous sport than to mischief^* Among his earli-est ambition was the desire to become a min-
ister, but in early youth that desire was lost
in the ambition to become a lawyer like his
father and as that ambition seemed to be
permanent his training was directed to that
end. ~) When William was six years old the
family moved to a large farm just outside
of the corporate limits of Salem, and here
he studied, played and worked until ten
years old, his mother, a remarkably strong-
minded, clear-headed, Christian woman, be-
ing his teacher, his guide and task-master,
his work being such chores as fall to the lot
of boys in well regulated, prosperous farm
homes. ^At the age of ten years he entered
the Salem public school, which he attended
five years, but was not particularly bright in
his studies^) his examinations show thor-
oughness rather than brilliancy, but his in-
terest in the literary and debating societies
was early developed and remained while he
attended the school and still abides, as is
shown by the Bryan oratorical contest held
annually in this school, and for which Mr.
Bryan provides a first and second prize of
ten and five dollars respectively.In 1872 his father made the race for Con-
gress, and William, then twelve years of
age, became much interested in the cam-
paign, and from that time on he cherished
the thought of some day being a public man
and a leader of the people.
At the age of fourteen he united with the
Cumberland Presbyterian church at Salem.
While at Jacksonville he took membershipwith the First Presbyterian church, and
upon his removal to Lincoln, Nebraska, he
placed his letter with the First Presbyte-
rian church of that place, and where his
membership still remains.
At fifteen years of age he entered the pre-
paratory department of Illinois College, at
Jacksonville, and for eight years was a stu-
dent in that college, spending only his vaca-
tions at home. (^Mr. Bryan while at collegewas not a great admirer of athletic sports,but took a mild interest in base ball and foot
ball, and was rather an enthusiastic runner
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i8 BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
and jumper, and in a contest open to stu-
dents and alumni, three years after his grad-
uation, he won the medal for the broad
standing jump, twelve feet and four inches
being the distance covered.)f While at the preparatory school the first
year he entered a prize contest and de-
claimed Patrick Henry's great speech, and
ranked near the fooyThe second year he de-
claimed "The Palmetto and the Pine," and
stood third. The next year as a freshman
he tried for a prize in Latin prose and di-
vided the second prize with a competitor.
The same year he gained second prize in
declamation. In his sophomore year he
took first prize with an essay, and in his jun-
ior year first prize in oration and was there-
by made representative of his college in the
intercollegiate oratorical contest at Gales-
burg, in 1880, where he received the second
prize of fifty dollars. That great orator, Gen.
John C. Black, was one of the judges and
marked him one hundred on delivery. At
the close of his college life in 1881, Mr.
Bryan stood at the head of his class and de-
livered the valedictory. This much is givenfor the encouragement of young men, show-
ing that improvement only comes with ef-
fort, and to persevere, though the first at-
tempt finds you near the foot.
In the fall of 1881 Mr. Bryan entered
Union Law College at Chicago, and spentmuch of his time in the law office of LymanTrumbull. After graduation he returned
to Salem for a short time, and won his fee
in the county court of Marion county.
July 4, 1883, Mr. Bryan began the prac-
tice of law in Jacksonville, Illinois ; he had
desk room in the office of Brown & Kirby,and now came the real test, waiting for busi-
ness. The first six months were trying and
he was forced to draw upon his father's es-
tate for small advances, and at one time he
seriously thought of seeking new fields, but
the beginning of the year 1884 brought
clients more frequently, and he felt encour-
aged to stay in Jacksonville, and now feelingthat he could see success, on October i,
1884, he was married to Miss Mary Baird,of Perry, Illinois.
In the summer of 1887 business called
Mr. Bryan to the West, and he spent one
Sunday with a classmate, A. R. Talbot, who
was located in Lincoln, Nebraska. So greatlywas he impressed with the opportunities of
the growing capital of the state that he re-
turned to Illinois full of enthusiasm for the
city of Lincoln, and perfected plans for re-
moval thither. In October, 1887, a partner-
ship was formed with Mr. Talbot, and
during the next three years a paying prac-
tice resulted.
As soon as Mr. Bryan settled in Lincoln
he identified himself actively with the Demo-
cratic party, of which he had been a mem-
ber in Illinois, and to the principles of which
his whole being was bound, and made his first
political speech at Seward, in the spring of
1888. Soon after he was sent as a delegateto the state convention, and in the canvass
of the First Congressional District he made
many speeches in favor of J. Sterling Mor-
ton, and also spoke in thirty-four counties
in favor of the state ticket. Mr. Morton
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HIGHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
was defeated by thirty-four hundred, as the
district was strongly Republican. In 1890
there was but little hope for the Democrats
in the First District, and Mr. Bryan was
nominated without opposition. W. J. Con-
nell was the Republican nominee. A chal-lenge to conduct the canvass by a series of
joint debates was issued by Mr. Bryan and
accepted by Mr. Connell, and at the close
Mr. Bryan won by a plurality of six thou-
sand, seven hundred and thirteen. Mr.
Bryan was elected to Congress again from
a new district which had been formed when
the state was re-apportioned in 1891. The
Republican state ticket carried the district
by six thousand, five hundred, but Mr.
Bryan was elected by one hundred and forty
plurality. During the four years he was in
Congress, he was very active, taking part in
every important debate and speaking manytimes. He declined to run again for Con-
gress but later permitted his nomination for
the Senate, but the Republicans carried the
state and Thurston was chosen Senator.
The Democratic National Convention
convened at Chicago July 4, 1896, and for
four days a battle of giants ensued over the
monetary plank in the platform. Speeches
were made for and against the free silver
coinage plank by such men of master minds
and national reputations before the conven-
tion as Senator Tillman, Senator Jones,
Senator Hill, Senator Vilas, ex-Governor
Russell. Senator Tillman favored the ma-
jority report of the committee, which fa-
vored the free coinage; all the rest opposed.
The debate was closed by Mr. Bryan in
support of the majority report in a speech
which rang so true and was such a master
piece of oratory that the convention was
swept off its feet and brought to Mr. Bryanthe nomination for the Presidency on the
fifth ballot on Friday, July loth. After a
most remarkable campaign he was defeated
by William McKinley being elected.
Four years later Mr. Bryan, greater in
defeat than other men in success, was againthe choice of the Democratic party for the
Presidency, and again suffered defeat, Mr.
McKinley being re-elected. In 1904 the
Democratic party nominated Alton B. Par-
ker, of New York, for President, and heled the party to the most crushing defeat
ever suffered by any party since the days of
John Ouincy Adams.
In 1908 the Democratic party again nom-
inated Mr. Bryan, and the Republican partyWilliam H. Taft and again the decision was
against the former. Thrice defeated yet
with each defeat growing greater, ad-
vocating great principles which he sees his
political opponents adopt, he stands today
the greatest living American.
When in 1906 and 1907 he took a triparound the world, he was received every-where with such ovations as are seldom ac-
corded to any, and were never before to a
private citizen, and his welcome home in the
city of New York was a demonstration oflove and respect from Americans to an
American that has never been equalled in
the history of the nation. Mr. Bryan maynever be President, but he has made an
impress on the nation for good that can
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ilOC.KAPHICAL AND KK M I .\ ISCKNT HISTORY OF
never be effaced and from his life the peo-
ples of the world have received an uplift
that will be felt to bless generations yet un-
born. In his life of moral purity, in his sin-
cere Christianity, and in his addresses on
the duties and responsibilities of life he has
given a new impulse to many a youth for
better things and if his work closed now
the one address "The Prince of Peace," will
stand a monument, more enduring than
chiseled marble or moulded brass, standing
forever as it must in the higher aims, purer
thoughts, nobler impulses and grander lives
of the men and women of the America of
the future.
BRYANT HIGGINS.
The family of our subject has been known
in Richland county since the pioneer pe-
riod, and, without invidious comparison, it
can with propriety be said that no other
name is better known or more highly es-
teemed in Richland county. Honored and
respected by all, there is today no man in
the county who occupies a more enviable
position in the estimation of the public, not
alone by the success he has achieved, but
also for the commendable and straightfor-ward policies which he has ever pursued and
the blameless life he has lived. He has led alife of noble endeavor, a life not devoid of
hardship and failure, but withal successful
and happy and one that is calculated to ben-
efit any locality, therefore those who know
Mr. Higgins are glad to accord him the re-
spect due him, and in his old age he has the
cheer of loyal friends and the thought that
his life has been lived in a manner that has
resulted in no evil or harm to anyone.
Bryant Higgins, an account of whose in-
teresting reminiscences of the early days
appears in this work, and who has been one
of the leading business and public men in
Richland county, who is now living in hon-
orable retirement, enjoying a well earned
respite, was born in Edwards county, Illi-
nois, September 28, 1838. George Hig-
gins, grandfather of the subject, was a na-
tive of Connecticut, whose father, Willis
Higgins, was born in Ireland, and was a
follower of Cromwell. When that greatleader went down in defeat, Willis Higginssoon afterward emigrated to America, lo-
cating at Hartford, Connecticut, where he
passed the remainder of his life. He usedthe prefix "O" to his name, O'Higgins. Hewas a military man most of his life, belong-
ing to the English army. George Higgins.
grandfather of our subject, was born in
Hartford, Connecticut, and became a tan-
ner, which profession he followed for a
number of years. He came to Illinois in
1803 with his family, settling where is now
Friendsville, Wabash county, then known as
Edwards county, which included nearly one-
third of the state. All was then wilderness
west of the Alleghany Mountains. He was
among the . early pioneers of this state.
Many hardships were endured on his tripoverland. He took up land, cleared and
improved farms. He was a typical pioneerof sterling traits. George Higgins was a
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ICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.RICH LA
Her. liavi
rRevolutionarysoldit
iment of Connecticut infantry.
'ing been in a reg-
The sub-
\ ject has a pair of spectacles which his
grandfather wore from Dorchester Heights
to Yorktown. It is a relic which he prizes
very highly. A well one hundred and fiftyfeet deep was dug at Friendsville in those
days when it was inside of what was then
Fort Barney, and George and Ransom Hig-
gins, the latter the subject's father, helped
dig the same. It is still in use. George
Higgins died there at an advanced age. Our
subject's father, Ransom Higgins, was born
in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was
reared, and in this state he married Ann
Bullard, a native of South Carolina. In 1800
Ransom Higgins made the long trip over-
land on horseback from Hartford to Vin-
cennes. Indiana. It was a trip of inspec-tion to the vicinity of what is now Friends-
ville for the purpose of finding a place for
settlement of a colony which came in 1803,
already referred to. He returned to Con-necticut in 180 1 and accompanied the colonywest two years later. He was a millwrightand probably built the first mill in this lo-
cality in 1805 on the Embarass river. It
was driven by water power. It was located
where Billet Station now stands on the BigFour Railway, the mill having been built for
a Mr. Brown. The father of our subject is
described as a very humane man. He wasa man of great physical endurance, six feet
and four inches in height and weighed two
hundred and seventy pounds. About the
time he built the mill referred to he found
an Indian in the woods with a broken leg.
whom he carried to shelter and nursed.Soon after this the Indian warned him that
Brown and his family would be killed. Mr.
Higgins urged them to leave the mill and
seek shelter, but they refused and were soon
afterward killed. Mr. Higgins was after-
wards known to the Indians as "Big Medi-
cine Man." He was Justice of the Peacefor many years, being among the first in the
territory. He was also Overseer of thePoor. He was a man of great bravery and
courage and made a gallant soldier in the
War of 1812, and also in the Black Hawk
war, and enlisted for the Mexican war, but
was later sent home. He was at the battleof Tippecanoe. His death occurred in 1850
in Edwards county, at the age of sixty-eight
years. His faithful life companion, a woman
of many fine traits, passed to her rest in Ol-
ney at the age of seventy-nine years. Theywere the parents of eight children, all de-
ceased except the subject of this sketch, who
was the youngest of the family.
Bryant Higgins, our subject, was reared
amid pioneer scenes on a farm. He attend-ed subscription and public schools, also had
private tutors, and made good use of his
opportunity, such as it was in those early
days, to secure a fairly good education. Hestudied civil engineering and surveying un-
der a Mr. Sloan, making rapid progress in
this line of work, which he followed with
gratifying results for many years. He lo-cated in Richland county in 1851, and has
since resided here. He did much of the
'early surveying in Richland county and has
seen the same develop from the wilderness
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mOGRAIMIICAL AXD REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
to its present high position among the sis-
ter counties of this great commonwealth, al-
ways doing his just share in the work of
progress.
Mr. Higgins was one of the loyal sons of
the Union who was glad to offer his services
under the old flag when the dark days of
rebellion came, having been among the ear-
liest to enlist in April, 1861, in Company D,
Eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infan-
try, his enlistment having been for three
months. The subject and John Lynch were
instrumental in organizing Company D,which was the first company organized and
mustered from Richland county. After his
first term of enlistment had expired he en-
listed in Company G, Twenty-sixth Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, in which he served in a
most gallant manner until the close of the
war, having been mustered out at Moscow,
Tennessee, in 1865. During his service he
was in the siege of Corinth and the battles
there, also fought at luka. Farmington, the
siege of Vicksburg, Missionary Ridge, the
siege of Atlanta. He was wounded at Far-
mington, Mississippi, May 9, 1862, havingbeen hit in the right elbow by a piece of
shell. He was examined for promotiontwice and was on General Loomis' staff, but
was not commissioned, being orderly ser-
geant. Nineteen years after the war closed
he was presented with a badge made at
Meriden, Connecticut. It was given to Mr.
Higgins by Gen. John Mason Loomis, who
had it made in recognition of services ren-
dered by the subject. The arrangement of
the badge commemorates the Thirteenth,
Fifteenth, Seventeenth and Twentieth ArmyCorps, the subject having been a member of
the Fifteenth, John A. Logan's Corps, which
was never defeated, and was never set
against a town it did not capture. The old
cartridge box of forty rounds became the
badge of the Fifteenth Army Corps.After the war Mr. Higgins returned
home, having married in 1862 while on a
trip to Springfield, Illinois, on military busi-
ness. He took up surveying and civil en-
gineering and did much work settling old
disputed business. In 1892 he was elected
County Surveyor, being the only Republicanon the ticket elected in a Democratic coun-
ty, which fact proved his great popularity
in his locality. He has lived in Olney manyyears and has taken an active interest in the
welfare of the community. In the spring of
1907 he was elected a member of the City
Council, being the sixth year as a member
of the same. He also served one term as
City Surveyor. He now lives retired in abeautiful and comfortable home, modern
and nicely furnished.
The wife of Mr. Higgins was Sarah E.
Marney before her marriage, the daughterof Robert and Sarah E. (Morris) Marney,
pioneers of Richland county, where Mrs.
Higgins was born. Her father was a na-
tive of Scotland and her mother was born
in Kentucky. The Morris family were greatslave owners, bringing them to Illinois, and
later freed them here. Colonel Morris,
grandfather of Mrs. Higgins, also her father,
Robert Marney, were in the War of 1812and were in the battle of Tippecanoe, Col-
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
onel Morris being wounded there. Robert
Marney was the first Probate Judge of
Richland county.
Mr. and Mrs. Higgins are the parents of
five children, four boys and one girl, two of
whom are living. Their oldest son. LewK., is in the employ of the Wells Fargo Ex-
press Company at Oakland, California,
James, the youngest son, is fireman on the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad; Edward diedin infancy ; Mary died at the age of sixteen
years ; Robert was killed in a railroad wreck
in Arizona when thirty years old, havingbeen conductor on the Santa Fe Railroad.
Mr. Higgins has been a keen and alert
man of affairs, and long a man of power inhis community. Over half a century has
passed since he came to this county and his
name is inscribed high on the roll of honored
pioneers.
JETER C. UTTERBACK.
Prominent among the leading journalistsof southern Illinois is the well known and
highly esteemed gentleman whose name fur-
nishes the caption of this article. As editor
and proprietor of one of the influential pa-
pers in his part of the state he has been a
forceful factor in moulding sentiment in his
community and directing thought alongthose lines which make for the enlighten-ment of the public and the highest good of
his fellow men.
Jeter C. Utterback is a native of Jasper
county, Illinois, where his birth occurred on
the 8th day of August, 1873. His father,
B. C. W. Utterback, a Kentuckian by birth,was the son of Thomas Utterback, who was
also a native of the Blue Grass state, and a
member of one of the oldest pioneer families
of Grayson county. In an early day Thomas
Utterback became prominent in the affairs
of his county and stood high in the confi-
dence and esteem of his fellow citizens. In
1836 he migrated to Illinois and settled in
the northwestern part of Richland county,
where he also became a local leader and a
man of wide influence. He was a farmer by
occupation, and in due time accumulated a
large and valuable estate in the county of
Richland, in which he spent the remainder
of his days, dying a number of years ago,
deeply lamented by the large circle of friends
and acquaintances who had learned to prizehim for his sterling worth.
B. C. W. Utterback was reared to matu-
rity in Richland county, and, like his father,
followed agricultural pursuits for a liveli-
hood. In the early seventies he disposed of
his interests in the county of Richland and
removed to Jasper county, where he contin-
ued farming and stock raising until 1878,
when heturned his land over to other hands
and took up his residence in Newton, where
he is now living a life of honorable retire-
ment. Nancy Ann Hinman, who became thewife of B. C. W. Utterback in January, 1856,was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana,
where her father, Titus Hinman, a native of
Ohio, settled in an early day. She bore her
husband ten children, seven of whom sur-
vive, namely : Eva, wife of George E. Hut-
son, of Dundas, Illinois; Thomas H., As-
sistant State Librarian, who lives in the
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
and formidable antagonist. On all mattersof public policy he occupies no neutral
ground, but fearlessly and honestly advo-
cates what he considers to be for the best
interest of the people and regardless of con-
sequences. In addition to its prominence
and influence as a party organ, Mr. Utter-
back has endeavored to make his paperanswer the purpose of an educational factor
and such it has indeed become, as its con-
tents, both political and general, tend to
improve the mind and cultivate the taste
rather than appeal to passion and prejudice,
after the manner of too many local sheets.
In recognition of valuable political ser-
vices as well as by reason of his fitness for
the position, Mr. Utterback in February,
1907, was appointed by President Roosevelt,
postmaster of Salem, the duties of which
responsible position he has discharged with
commendable fidelity, proving an able, cour-
teous and truly obliging public official. At
the time of his appointment the office was
in the third class with a salary of $1,700
per year, but since then the business has in-
creased to such an extent that it is now a
second class office with fair prospects of
advancing.
Since the establishment of a post-office
at Salem many years ago, no young manwas appointed postmaster until the honor
fell to Mr. Utterback, and to say that he has
been praiseworthy of the trust and dis-
charged the duties as ably and faithfully as
any of his numerous predecessors is to state
a fact of which all are cognizant, and which
all, irrespective of political alignment, most
cheerfully concede. The high esteem in
which he is held as an editor, public servant
and enterprising citizen, indicate the pos-session of sterling manly qualities and a
character above reproach, and that he is
destined to fill a still larger place in the pub-
lic gaze and win brighter honor with the
passing of years, is the belief of his friends
and fellow citizens, based, they say, on the
able and conscientious manner in which he
has fulfilled every trust thus far confided to
him. Mr. Utterback, although a young man,
has achieved success such as few attain in
a much longer career, and the hope the peo-
ple of Salem and Marion county entertain
for his future seems fully justified and well
founded.
Mr. Utterback is a splendid type of the
intelligent, broadminded American of today,
and personally as well as through the me-
dium of the press he is doing much to foster
the material development and intellectual
growth of his city and county, besides exer-
cising an active and potential influence in
elevating the moral sentiment of the com-
munity. He holds membership with the
Pythian Lodge of Salem, and has labored
earnestly to make the organization answer
the purposes which the founders had in
view, exemplifying in his daily life and con-
duct the beautiful principles and sublime
precepts upon which the order is based. Heis a believer in revealed religion, and while
subscribing to the Methodist faith is not
narrow in his views, having faith in the
mission of all churches and to the extent of
his ability assisting the different organiza-
tions of his city, although devoutly loyal
to the one with which identified.
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HIOGKAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
Mr. Utterback owns one of the most beau-
tiful and attractive homes in Salem, which
is a favorite resort of the best social circle
of the city, and within its walls reigns an
air of genuine hospitality which sweetens
the welcome extended to every guest that
crosses the threshold. The presiding spiritof this attractive domicile is a lady of intel-
ligence and gracious presence who presidesover the family circle with becoming grace
and dignity, and whose popularity is only
bounded by the limits of her acquaintance.
The maiden name of this estimable woman
was Charlotte B. Merritt, and the ceremony
by which it was changed to the one she now
so worthily bears as the wife and helpmeet
of the subject was solemnized on the 2nd
day of November, 1898. Mrs. Utterback
is the daughter of Hon. T. E. Merritt, of
Salem, ex-Senator from Marion county, and
a man of influence and high standing both
politically and socially. Mr. and Mrs. Ut-
terback have one child, a son, Tom C., whowas born October 17, 1901, and for whose
future his fond parents entertain many ar-
dent hopes.
ROBERT T. McQUIN.
In the pursuit of his business career Mr.
McQuin has displayed unfaltering devotion
to the principles he has learned to cherish
and his honesty and integrity have earned
him a place among the representative and
staunchest citizens of Marion county, Illi-
nois.
Robert T. McQuin was born in Johnson
county, Indiana, October 16, 1853, the son
of William I. McQuin, a native of Kentuckywho went to Indiana when a young man.
He was a carpenter by trade. He movedfrom Indiana soon after our subject was
born, locating at Oconee, Shelby county, Il-
linois, where he lived for three or four years.
Then he moved to Salem, Illinois, in July,
1859. The first work he did here was on
the Park Hotel, which was built in that year
by Amos Clark and which was known then
as the Clark House. William I. McQuincontinued to live in Salem, where he was
regarded as a man of integrity and influ-
ence, until his death in October, 1899. The
mother of the subject of this sketch was
known in her maidenhood as Mary E. Stur-
geon, who was a native of Kentucky and a
woman of many estimable traits. Her moth-
er lived to reach the remarkable age of nine-
ty-seven years. One of her brothers was a
policeman in St. Louis, Missouri. She died
in April, 1908, in Denison, Texas, where
she was living with her son, Edwin S. Mc-
Quin.
The father and mother of the subjectwere the parents of nine children, five of
whom are living. Their names in order ofbirth follow: Tarlton, deceased; William F.,
deceased; Robert T., our subject; James S.,
who is living at New Castle, Indiana, andis secretary and treasurer of the Hoosier
Kitchen Cabinet Company, which is doing
an extensive business all over the world;
Sarah E., deceased; Agnes, deceased; Ed-
win S., living at Denison, Tex., being a con-
ductor on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas
-
HIGHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. -'7
Railroad Company's lines: John T., a car-
penter, living in St. Louis; May lives withher brother in Denison, Texas.
These children all received every advan-
tage possible by their parents, who tried to
raise them in a wholesome home atmosphere,
setting worthy ideals before them at all
times.
Robert T. McOuin, our subject, lived with
his father until he was twenty-five years old.
assisting with the work about the place and
attending the public schools of Salem, in
which he diligently applied himself, and re-
ceived a fairly good education. When twen-
ty years old he began working as a harness
maker and two years later commenced the
shoemaker's trade, following this with much
success until 1881, when he launched into
the shoe business for himself, having con-
tinued the same ever since with satisfactory
results, building up a large and extensive
trade by reason of his honest business prin-
ciples and his uniform courtesy to custom-
ers. His trade extends to all parts of the
county and his store is well known to all
the citizens of Salem and surrounding towns
for his patrons have learned that he handles
the best grade of footwear in the market and
always gives good value. He augmented hisbusiness in 1889 by adding a complete stock
of harness and by doing a general line of re-
pair work. He now handles a full line ofharness and similar materials. He manufac-tures most all of his heavy harness and some
buggy harness, being recognized as the lead-
ing dealer in this line in Marion county.Mr. McQuin was happily married to Jen-
nie Slack, October 16, 1879, the refined and
accomplished daughter of Frederick W.
Slack, who lived in Salem at that time. Her
family were natives of Kentucky. It was
rather singular that this family moved from
Kentucky to Oconee, Illinois, and then to
Salem simultaneously with the McQuin fam-
ily ; however the last move was made a few
years after the McQuin family came to Sa-
lem. Two children have been born to the
subject and wife, namely : Maud, who is the
wife of Dwight W. Larimer, in the abstract
business in Salem ; Ralph is the second child
and a student of the Salem public schools.
Mr. McOuin has been twice honored by
being elected City Council of Salem. Heis associated with his brother-in-law, \Y. S.
Slack, in the monument business in Salem,
which is also a thriving business, the firm
name being R. T. McQuin & Company.Our subject is a Modern Woodman in his
fraternal relations and he belongs to the
Presbyterian church, having been a consist-
ent member of the same for a period of thir-
ty-four years in 1908. Mrs. McQuin also
subscribes to this faith. Our subject has
been a deacon in the church and is now a
ruling elder.
Mr. McQuin has ever been known as a
loyal citizen and has done his share in aid-
ing the march of progress and development
in this county, and during his residence in
Salem his characteristics have won for him
recognition as a man of upright dealing and
by his many virtues he has won the respectand esteem of his fellow citizens.
-
BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
WALTER C. IRWIN.
One of the progressive and well known
business men of Salem, Marion county, Illi-
nois, is the subject of this sketch, who has
spent his life in this vicinity, a life that has
been very active and useful, for he has not
lost sight of the fact that it is every man's
duty to aid in the upbuilding of his county
in all lines of development while he is ad-
vancing his own interests, and because of the
fact that he has ever taken an interest in
the public weal, has led an honorable and
consistent career, being at present one of the
best known druggists of the county, the pub-lishers of this work are glad to give him
proper representation here.
Walter C. Irwin, of the Salem Drug Com-
pany, was born in luka, this county, in Oc-
tober, 1866, the son of Dr. J. A. Irwin, a
native of Johnson county, Missouri, whocame to luka at the close of the war, havingbeen a surgeon in the Confederate army un-
der General Price's command. He was atthe battle of Wilson's Creek, near Spring-
field, Missouri, and also the battle of Pea
Ridge, Arkansas, in addition to many other
smaller engagements. He successfully prac-ticed his profession from 1865 to 1905, and
is now living at St. Augustine, Florida,where he went in 1905 on account of his
health.
The mother of the subject was MaryDubbs, a native of Pennsylvania, who cameto Illinois in 1865. She was a woman of
many praiseworthy traits and passed to herrest in 1894 at luka. Four children were
born to the parents of our subject, named in
order of birth as follows : \Valter,subject of
this sketch; Byrdie, the wife of Charles A.
Bainum, cashier of the First National Bank
at Bicknell, Indiana ; J. Max is practicingmedicine at St. Augustine, Florida; MaggieAlice died in 1880.
Walter Irwin was reared at luka, where
he attended the common schools, later tak-
ing a course in Lincoln University at Lin-
coln, Illinois, which he attended for two
years, making a brilliant record as a student.
After this he attended the Business Univer-
sity at Lincoln for one year, having grad-
uated from the same. He then returned toluka and was engaged in general merchan-
dising and the drug business until 1894,when he came to Salem and embarked in
the drug business. While at luka he was
postmaster under Cleveland and resigned to
come to Salem, and his father was appointed
postmaster in his place. Our subject has
been in Salem ever since, with the exception
of two years spent as a traveling salesman,
when he resided in Bloomington, this state.
The Salem Drug Company was organized
August 26, 1907. Prior to that time Mr.
Irwin owned the store, having established it
in 1904, and with the exception of the two
years noted he has been continuously identi-
fied with it, building up an excellent trade
with the people of Salem and the entire coun-
ty, as the result of his unusual knowledge of
this line of business and his courteous and
impartial treatment of cutsomers.
Mr. Irwin was married in 1892 to Maggie
Stevenson, who was born in Stevenson
-
HIGHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
township, this county, the accomplished
daughter of Samuel E. Stevenson, now de-
ceased, for whom the township was named.lie was a prominent citizen of the county for
many years.One son, a bright and interesting lad, has
added cheer and comfort to the home of our
subject, who bears the name of Eugene E.,and whose date of birth occurred November
5, 1893, while the family was residing at
luka.
Mr. Invin has prospered as a result of his
well directed energies and has considerable
business interests besides his drug store,
among which may be mentioned a half inter-
est in the Fibernie Sweep Clean Company,manufacturers of a preparation for cleaning
floors, carpets, etc., the main office being lo-
cated at Salem with branches in Springfield,
Missouri ; Memphis, Tennessee, and Fort
Smith, Arkansas. The business of this con-
cern is growing at a rapid stride. Mr. Ir-
win is a stockholder and director in the Sa-
lem National Bank. He is also proprietorof the White Foam Company, which manu-
factures a preparation for cleaning fabrics
without rubbing and which at present prom-
ises to become in immense demand. Our
subject is also a stockholder and director in
the Oleite Manufacturing Company, of St.
Louis, which manufactures leather dress-
ings.
Mr. Irwin has served in a most acceptable
manner as a member of the Salem Board of
Education. In his fraternal relations he is
a Mason, a member of the Knights of Py-thias, the American Home Circle, Ben Hur
and the Eastern Star, and Mr. and Mrs. Ir-
win are members of the Presbyterian church.
They live in a modern, comfortable and
nicely furnished home, which is presided
over with rare grace and dignity by Mrs.
Irwin, who often acts as hostess to
numerous admiring friends, and every-one who crosses its threshold is made
partaker of the good will and hos-
pitality that is always unstintingly dis-
pensed here, and because of their genuine
worth, integrity, uprightness and pleasingmanners no couple in Marion county en-
joy to a fuller extent the esteem and friend-
ship of all classes than our subject and wife.
BENJAMIN E. MARTIN, SR.
It is safe to venture the assertion that no
one attains eminence in business or any pro-
fession without passing through a period of
more or less unremitting toil, of disappoint-ments and struggles. He who has broughthis business to a successful issue through
years of work and has established it upona substantial basis, and yet retains the ap-
pearance of youth, who has in his step the
elasticity of younger days and shows little
trace of worry or care that too often lag the
footsteps of the direction of large affairs,
must be a man possessed of enviable char-
acteristics. Such is a brief word picture of
the worthy gentleman whose name forms the
caption of this sketch, as he now appears,after a long, active and prosperous business
http://stores.ebay.com/Ancestry-Found
http://stores.ebay.com/Ancestry-Found
-
BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
career, the peer of any of his contemporaries
in all that enters into the make-up of the suc-
cessful man of affairs or that constitutes a
leader in important business enterprises.
Therefore, by reason of the fact that Mr.
Martin has attained worthy prestige as a
business man, and also because he was one
of the patriotic sons of the North who went
forth on many a hard fought battlefield to
defend the flag in the days of the Rebellion,
and also because of his life of honor, it is
eminently fitting that he be given just rep-
resentation in a work of the province as-
signed to the one at hand.
B. E. Martin was born in what was for-
merly Estillville. now Gate City. Virginia,
February 27, 1845. the son of John S. Mar-
tin, also a native of Virginia and the repre-
sentative of a fine old Southern family. The
father of the subject was Clerk of the Court
in his home county for a period of twenty-four years. He moved to Illinois in 1846and entered government land near Alma, the
land that Alma now stands on. He laid outthe town of Alma and there went into the
mercantile business, in which he remained
until the breaking out of the Civil war. Hedied in that town in 1866. He was a manof unusual business ability and became well
known in his community. The mother of
the subject was Nancy Brownlow, a native
of Virginia. She dide shortly after she
moved to Illinois. She is remembered as a
woman of gracious personality. Seven chil-
dren were born to the parents of our subject,
four sons and three daughters, named in 01-
der of birth as follows : Eliza, deceased ; Mrs.
Nancy Bradford, of Greenville, Illinois,
.Emily, deceased; Robert; Mrs. Kate Ben-
nett, of Greenville, Illinois; Thompson G.,of Salem; B. E., our subject, being the
youngest. The father of these children wasmarried three times, his first wife being Ma-
linda Morrison, of Estillville, Virginia, to
whom three children were born, two dyingin infancy, the one surviving becoming Col.
James S. Martin, now deceased, who livedto be eighty years of age, a sketch of whom
appears elsewhere in this volume. The sec-
ond wife was the mother of the subject of
this sketch ; the third wife was Jane See, to
whom one child was born, who died in the
Philippine Islands.
B. E. Martin, Sr., was reared in Alma,
this state, remaining there until he was six-
teen years of age, attending the local school.
When only sixteen years old he could not re-
press the patriotic feeling that prompted him
to shoulder arms in defense of the nation's
integrity, consequently on July 25, 1861, he
enlisted in the Fortieth Illinois Volunteer In-
fantry. He was in many skirmishes and en-
gagements, having fought in the great bat-
tle of Shiloh, where his regiment lost two
hundred and forty-seven men in the two
days' fight, and he was in several small en-
gagements as they advanced on Corinth.
His brother, Thomas G.. was in every en-
gagement and skirmish in which this regi-
ment was involved, never being sick a day.and never missing a roll call. He enlistedin 186 1 and at the expiration of his term of
three years re-enlisted as a veteran and
served until the close of the war. Our sub-
-
HIGHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ject had three brothers and one half-brother
in the army.
After his career in the army Mr. Martin
went into the drug business at Greenville,
Illinois. He later went to Olathe, Johnson
county, Kansas, where he engaged in the
same line of business from 1867 to 1869;
then he returned to Marion county, Illinois,
and resumed the drug business here, in
which he remained a short time. Selling
out his stock of drugs, he began selling
agricultural implements, adding the lumber
business in connection with his brother. He
made a success of all the lines in his vari-
ous locations. In 1877 he established his
present business, that of wholesale seeds, in
which he has quite an extensive trade, hav-
ing become known as the leading seed man
in this locality, consequently his trade ex-
tends to all parts of the country. He usesthe most modern and highly improved ma-
chinery for cleaning seeds.
Our subject was united in marriage in
November, 1866, to Florida Cunningham,
who was born and reared in Salem, the
daughter of John Cunningham, then a mer-
chant of Salem. He was a man of honest
principle and influence in his community.
Eight children have been born to the sub-
ject and wife, one of whom died in infancy,the others are now living in 1908. Theyare: Mary, the wife of Charles T. Austin,
of Indianapolis; B. E., Jr., who is engagedin the general mercantile business in Salem ;
Bertha is the wife of John Gibson, living in
Manila, Philippine Islands; Nancy is livingin Salem; John C. is cashier of the Salem
National Bank;Edith and Gena.
The subject has achieved success in an
eminent degree owing to his well directed
energy and honesty and persistency. He isa stockholder and director of the Salem Na-
itonal Bank. He owns a modern, comfort-able and nicely furnished residence.
Mr. Martin has served as Supervisor of
Salem township. He discharged the dutiesof this office with his usual business alacrity
and foresight. He is a Democrat and has
always been active in politics. In his fra-
ternal relations he affiliates with the Ma-
sons. He also belongs to the Grand Armyof the Republic, and is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, also the Gid-
eons. He is an honorary member of the
Woodmen, and he is well and favorablyknown in lodge circles, business life and
social relations, being regarded as one of
the most trustworthy and substantial citi-
zens of Salem and Marion county.
Before closing this review it would not be
amiss to quote the following paragraph
which appeared in a Salem paper some time
since under the caption, "A RemarkableRecord" :
"There resides in this city four brothers
who have a record which is remarkable and
doubtless without a parallel among their
fellow countrymen. They were all soldiers
in the Civil war; two enlisting in the Forti-
eth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in
1 86 1, and the other two in the One Hundred
and Eleventh Regiment of this state in 1862.
They participated in every battle in which
their respective regiments were engaged.
were never in a hospital, and none of them
ever received the slightest wound, notwith-
-
32 niOGKAI'HICAL AND KK.MIXISCKXT HISTORY OF
standing they were in the thickest of fights
where thousands were slain or wounded. At
the battle of Shiloh nearly three hundred
of the Fortieth Regiment were killed or
wounded, but 'Tom' and 'Ben' were amongthose who came out without a scratch.
These four brothers with the remarkable
record are James S., Thomas, Robert and
Benjamin E. Martin, honorable, substantial
citizens of Salem."
HON. CHARLES E. HULL.
One of the notable men of his day and
generation, who has gained success and rec-
ognition for himself and at the same time
honored his county and state by distin-
guished services in important trusts, is
Hon. Charles E. Hull, of Salem, who
holds worthy prestige among the leadingbusiness men of Southern Illinois. Distinct-
ively a man of affairs whose broad and liber-
al ideas command respect, he has long filled a
conspicuous place in the public eye, and as
a leader in many important civic enterprisesas well as a notable figure in the political
arena of his day, he has contributed much
to the welfare of his fellow men and at-
tained distinction in a field of endeavor
where sound erudition, mature judgment
and talents of a high order are required.
Aside from his honorable standing in pri-
vate and public life, there is further pro-
priety in according him representation in
the work, for he is a native son of Marion
county, which has been the scene of the
greater part of his life's earnest labors, his
home being in the beautiful and attractive
little city of Salem, where he it at presentthe head of a large and important business
enterprise, and where he also commands the
esteem and confidence of all classes and con-
ditions of the populace.
Mr. Hull belongs to an old and highlyesteemed family that figured in the early
history of Kentucky, to which state his
great-grandparent, John Hull, emigratedfrom New Jersey in 1788. Here SamuelHull was born in 1806. About the year 1815the Hulls disposed of their interests in the
South and migrated to Illinois, settling at
Grand Prairie, Clinton county, where JohnHull died in 1833. Before his death he sent
his son, Samuel, into what is now the countyof Marion to a place near the site of Wal-
nut Hill, where he, in 1823, at the age of
seventeen, attended the first school ever
taught in the county. At this time Marion
was created from Jefferson county and the
young man remained here, marrying in 1831
Lucy, the daughter of Mark Tully, the
founder of Salem. He was made Recorderin 1833, which office he held until 1837,
when he was made Sheriff, filling the latter
position by successive re-elections six terms,
the most of the time without opposition.
Later in 1849 he was further honored by
being elected County Judge, this being un-
der the old law which provided for two As-
sociate Judges, but Mr. Hull's knowledge of
law together with his fitness for the position
enabled him to discharge his judicial func-
-
HIGHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COTNTIES, ILLINOIS. 33
tions without much assistance from the hon-
orable gentleman who occupied the bench
with him. He proved an able and judiciousjudge, and during his incumbency of four
years transacted a great deal of business and
rendered a number of important decisions,
but few of which suffered reversal at the
hands of higher tribunals. Shortly after re-
tiring from the bench he was appointed byPresident Pierce postmaster of Salem, and
four years later he was reappointed by
President Buchanan, holding the position
during the latter's administration, and in
this, as in the other offices with which he
was honored, proving a capable and popu-
lar public servant.
Samuel Hull was a pronounced Demo-
crat and influential member of the party un-
till the breaking out of the Rebellion, when
he became a Republican and a great admirer
of President Lincoln, whom he supported inthe election of 1860, and for whom he everafterward entertained feeling of the most
profound regard. He was a prominent fig-ure in the affairs of Marion county for over
eighty years, during which period he be-
came widely and favorably known,
and his influence was always on the side of
right as he saw and understood the right.
During his later years he lived a life of hon-
orable retirement at his beautiful rural home
near Salem, having purchased the land
from the Government shortly after coming
to Marion county, building with his own
hands in 1831 a double log house, which still
stands the oldest building in Marion
county. This sterling citizen and faithful
3
official lived to a good purpose and his mem-
ory is cherished as a sacred heritage not
only by his immediate family and friends,
but by the entire community, all with whomhe was accustomed to mingle, feeling his
death as a personal loss. He reached a
ripe and contented old age and it is a fact
worthy of note that he and his faithful wife
and helpmeet died the same night after a
mutually happy and prosperous wedded ex-
perience of fifty-nine years. Samuel Hull
and wife were held in high esteem by near-
ly every citizen of Marion county, their cir-
cle of friends and acquaintances being large
and their names familiar sounds in almost
every household in both city and country.
He served in the Black Hawk war, besides
participating in many other exciting strug-
gles during the pioneer period, as he was a
leader among his fellow men and alwaysstood for law and order, sometimes, too, at
his personal risk. The land which he en-
tered and improved and on which he spent
the greater part of his life is now owned byhis grandson, Charles E. Hull. This piece
of land, now within the city limits of Sa-
lem, has the unique distinction of the few-
est transfers, it having been transferred by
purchase from Samuel direct to Charles.
Erasmus Hull, son of the aforementioned
Samuel and father of the subject of this
sketch, was born August 31, 1832, in Ma-
rion county, Illinois, and spent his entire
life near the place of his birth, having for
many years been identified with the town
of Salem, and a leader in its business and
financial interests. He was a merchant and
-
34 I!I()C,KAIM!ICAI. AXI) KKM I \ ISCKNT HISTORY OF
banker and in addition to achieving marked
success in those capacities he was also an
enterprising man of affairs, public spiritedin all the term implies and wielded a strong
influence in behalf of all measures and
movements having for their object the ma-
terial advancement of the community and
the social and moral welfare of the people.
A leading spirit in the organization of theSalem Bank, in 1869, and one of the orig-
inal stockholders, he was a member of the
board of directors from that time until his
death, and to his mature judgment, sound
business ability and familiarity with finan-
cial matters were largely due the continued
growth and signal success of the institu-
tion. He was also interested in the Ma-
rion County Loan and Trust Company, the
predecessor of the bank, and always kept in
close touch with the finances of the state
and nation as well as with general business
affairs, on all of which he was well in-
formed and on not a few was considered an
authority.
Mr. Hull was the first Supervisor of Sa-
lem township, also Chairman of the County
Board for a-number of years, besides serv-
ing a long time as School Director. In
these different capacities he discharged his
official duties faithfully and effectively, tak-
ing a leading part in educational matters
and using his influence in every laudable
way to promote the prosperity of the com-
munity and the happiness of the people: In
addition to his mercantile and financial busi-
ness he was quite prominently interested in
the manufacture of flour and lumber, be-
ginning to operate a mill in 1853, and con-
tinuing the business with encouraging sue*
cess as long as he lived. He also conducteda large packing house in Salem before the
days of trusts and combines and built up an
important and far-reaching industry, buying
nearly all the hogs in the adjacent countryand shipping his meats to the leading mar-
kets, where they commanded good prices.He was a man of brain and of practicalideas, combined with solid judgment, wise
foresight and he seldom failed in any of his
undertakings. In politics he was an un-
swerving Democrat, and an influential
worker for the success of his party and its
candidates, though not a partisan in the
sense of aspiring for office. He dischargedhis duties of citizenship in the spirit becom-
ing the progressive and broad minded Amer-
ican of the day in which he lived, while the
deep interest he manifested in his own lo-
cality made him a leader in all laudable en-
terprises for its advancement. His career,
which was strenuous, eminently honorable
and fraught with great good to his fellow
men and to the world, terminated with his
lamented death on the i6th day of June,
1896, in his sixty-fourth year; his taking
off, like that of his father, being keenly felt
and widely mourned in the town where he
had so long and creditably lived, and where
his success had been achieved.
Before her marriage Mrs. Erasmus Hull
was Dicy Finley. Her father, Rev. William
Finley, a well known and remarkably suc-
cessful minister of the Cumberland Presby-terian church, came to Marion county in an
-
RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
early day and for many years labored zeal-
ously to disseminate the truths of religion
among the people and win souls to the
higher life. During the years of his activ-
ity, he traveled extensively throughout
Southern Illinois, preaching and organizing
churches, and it is said that the majority of
Cumberland Presbyterian societies in the
central and southern portions of the state
were established by him, while others and
weak congregations were strengthened and
placed upon solid footing through his ef-
forts. Mrs. Hull bore her husband three
children and departed this life on May 16,
1903, beloved and respected by all with
whom she came in contact. Of her familyone of the children died in infancy, Mrs.
Mary Bradford being the second in order
of birth, and Charles E. Hull, of Salem, the
subject of this review, the youngest of the
number.
On his father's maternal side the subjectdates his family history to the earliest set-
tlement of Illinois, his great-grandfather,
Mark Tully, migrating to what is now Ma-
rion county, while the feet of savages still
pressed the soil and settling near the site of
Salem, where there was no vestage of civili-
zation within a radius of eight or ten miles,
his rude cabin having been the first human
habitation where the thriving seat of justicenow stands. He moved here from Indianaand entered a tract of land from which in
due time he cleared and developed a farm,
and later when the county of Marion was set
off and organized, he donated ground for
the seat of justice, which was surveyed and
platted in 1823, and to which he gave the
name of Salem. In honor of the town in
the Hoosier state from which he came. Hetook an active part in the county organiza-
tion, was its first Sheriff and held a number
of offices from time to time, and to him be-
longs the credit of keeping the first tavern
in Salem, which appears to have been quite
well patronized, while the town was beingsettled and for eighty years thereafter, being
kept after his death by a daughter. He alsoerected a mill, the first in Salem, which was
highly prized by the pioneers for manymiles around, although a primitive affair
equipped with the simplest kind of machin-
ery, and originally operated by means of a
sweep. Later it was somewhat improvedand operated by horses or oxen in what was
called a tread, but after the lapse of several
years the original structure was remodeled,
a large addition built, and new and im-
proved machinery' installed, and steam
power introduced, this being the first mill in
the county to be run by steam. Mr. Tully
was a true type of the sturdy, strong willed
pioneer of his day. He was energetic, pub-lic-spirited, distinctively a man of affairs,and to him as much perhaps as to any other,is the town of Salem indebted for the im-
petus which added so materially to its
growth and prosperity. As a leader amongthe pioneers of his time, he did a work that
few could accomplish and wielded an influ-
ence which had a decided effect in establish-
ing the social status of the community upona high moral plane. After a long and useful
career he was called from the scenes of his
-
BIOC.RAl'HTCAL AX1) RKM1XISCF.XT HISTORY OF
earthly struggles and triumphs in the year
1867, leaving a number of descendants,
some of whom still live in Marion county,and are among the substantial and respected
people of the communities in which they re-
side.
Hon. Charles E. Hull was born Novem-
ber 7, 1862, in Salem, and spent his early
years like the majority of town lads, assist-
ing his parents where his services were re-
quired, and during certain months pursuing
his studies in the public schools. While a
mere child, he evinced a decided taste for
books and his progress in his studies was so
rapid that he completed the high school
course and was graduated at the early age
of fourteen, standing among the best stu-
dents in the class of 1877. Actuated by a
laudable desire to add to his scholastic
knowledge he subsequently entered the
Southern Illinois Normal University, at
Carbondale, where he took the full classical
course, which he finished in three years, one
year less than the prescribed time, graduat-
ing in 1880 with the class honors.
Shortly after receiving his degree from
the above institution Mr. Hull engaged in
merchandising at Salem, continued to the
present time a business established by Sam-
uel and Erasmus Hull, in 1853, and since
that time his life has been very closely iden-
tified with the business interests and general
prosperity of the town, in addition to which
he has conducted several mercantile estab-
lishments at other points and become a
prominent figure in the public life of Marion
county, and the state at large. Possessingsound sense, well balanced judgment, and a
natural aptitude for business, his mercantile
experience soon passed the experimental
stage and within a comparatively brief pe-
riod he built up a large and lucrative patron-
age, and became one of the best known and
most popular merchants of the town. Ad-
vancing with rapid strides and outstrippingall of his competitors, he was soon induced
to project his business enterprises into other
parts, accordingly, as already indicated, he
established stores in various towns and vil-
lages of the county, and at one time had
five of these establishments in successful op-
eration in addition to his large general
mercantile house in Salem, all of .which
proved successful and in due season made
him one of the financially solid and reliable
men of Marion county. After some yearshe closed out two of his stores but he still
retains the other three, two in Salem and
one in Kinmundy, and enjoys a well merited
reputation as one of the most enterprising
and successful business men in the southern
part of the state.
In addition to his large mercantile inter-
ests Mr. Hull is connected with other im-
portant business enterprises, having been a
director of the Salem bank since 1895, and
cashier of the institution during the years
1906-7, and in 1889 he organized the Salem
Creamery, which he operated for a period of
fifteen years, during which time he did an
extensive and lucrative business, using as
high as twenty thousand pounds of milk per
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
day, and making a brand of butter for which
there was always a great demand. By rea-
son of indifference on the part of the farm-
ers in the matter of supplying milk, Mr.
Hull disposed of the creamery at the expira-
tion of the period indicated, the better to de-
vote his attention to his other interests,
which have become important and far reach-
ing in their influence, adding much to the
material prosperity of the city and to his
fame as a leading spirit in business circles.
Among the various enterprises of which heis the head, is the Salem Brick Mill, which,
under the firm name of Hull & Draper, hasbecome one of the successful industrial con-
cerns of the place, also the Hull Telephone
System, established in 1898, and of which
he is sole proprietor. This important and
much valued enterprise, one of the best of
the kind in Illinois, extends to all parts of
Marion county, connecting all the towns and
villages and numerous private residences,
besides having connection in the adjoining
counties, thus bringing Salem in close touch
with all the leading cities of the state and
nation, and proving of inestimable value to
the people as well as to the business interests
of the various points on the line. Under the
personal management of Mr. Hull, who has
operated the plant ever since it was estab-
lished, the system has been brought to a
degree of efficiency second to no other.
Since the year 1894, Mr. Hull has owned
The Salem Herald Advocate, the oldest
newspaper in Marion county, the history of
which dates from 1853. The paper origin-
ally was established by John W. Merritt,
and since the above year has been the best
patronized and most successful sheet in Ma-
rion county, and one of the most influential
in Southern Illinois, being the official organ
of the local Democracy, and a power in the
political affairs of this part of the state. Un-
der the management of Mr. Hull it has
steadily grown in public favor, and now has
a large and continually increasing subscrip-
tion list, a liberal advertising patronage, and
with an office well equipped with the latest
machinery and devices used in the art pre-
servative, and its columns teeming with the
news of the day as well as with able discus-
sions of the leading questions and issues
upon which men and parties are divided, it
promises to continue in the future as it has
been in the past, a strong influence in politi-
cal affairs and a power in moulding and di-
recting opinion on matters of general in-
terest to the people.
Aside from the various enterprises enu-
merated, Mr. Hull for a number of years
was quite extensively interested in the San-
doval Coal and Mining Company, of which
he was general manager until disposing of
his shares in the concern, and he is now and
long has been one of the largest holders of
real estate in Marion county, being an en-
terprising and up-to-date agriculturist. In
the midst of his numerous and pressing du-
ties, he finds time to devote to other than
his individual affairs, being interested in the
community and its advancement and in all
worthy enterprises for the good of his fel-
low men. Ever since arriving at the years
of manhood he has been a leading factor in
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BIOGKAIMIICAl. AND RKM I N ISC K XT HISTORY OF
public matters, and in a material way has
been untiring in his efforts to promote the
prosperity of Salem and Marion county, tak-
ing an active interest in all movements and
measures with this object in view besides in-
augurating and carrying to successful issue
many enterprises which have tended greatlyto the general welfare of the community. In
political matters and kindred subjects he has
not only been interested but has risen to the
position of leader. He has been a life-longDemocrat, and since his twenty-first yearhas exercised a strong influence in the polit-
ical affairs of Marion county, and became
widely and favorably known in party circles
throughout the state, a prominent figure in
local, district and state conventions, he has
borne a leading part in making platforms,
formulating policies ; as a campaigner, he is
a judicious adviser in the councils of his
party, a successful worker in the ranks, and
to him as much if not more than to anyother man in Marion county, is the party in-
debted for its success in a number of ani-
mated and exciting political contests.
In 1896 Mr. Hull was elected to repre-sent the Forty-second Senatorial District,
composed of the counties of Clay, Washing-
ton, Marion and Clinton, in the UpperHouse of the State Legislature, in the cam-
paign of which memorable year he ran far in
advance in his home town of any other can-
didate on the Democratic ticket, receivingmore votes than were polled for William
Jennings Bryan, the popular head of the na-
tional ticket, and the idol of Democracy.Mr. Hull's career in the General Assembly
was eminently honorable, and he took highrank as an industrious and useful member,
who spared no effort in behalf of his con-
stituents, besides laboring earnestly and
faithfully for the general good of his state.
In 1904 he was renominated by his party,and in the ensuing election his Republican
competitor withdrew from the race, it being
evident that he would be overwhelmingly de-
feated. The district that year was com-
posed of the counties of Marion, Clay, Clin-
ton and Effingham. In the senate he be-
came the minority leader, and in addition
to serving on a number of important com-
mittees, took an active part in the general
deliberations of the chamber, participating
in the discussions and debates, and to him
belongs the credit of leading in the fight for
a direct primary, also of being the only mi-
nority leader who ever succeeded in holdinghis party together on minority legislation.
Mr. Hull's senatorial experience is replete
with duty ably and faithfully performed,
and such was the interest he manifested for
his district that he won the confidence and
good will of the people irrespective of po-
litical alignment, all of whom speak in
praise of his honorable course and the broad
enlightenment spirit which he displayed
throughout his legislative career. As alreadystated he is a familiar figure in the conven-
tions of his party, both local and state, and
for a period of twenty-eight years he has
not missed attending a Democratic national
convention.
For several years Mr. Hull owned and
occupied the place where Mr. Bryan was
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 39
born, but after the campaign of 1896 he sold
it to Mr. Bryan, between whom and himselfthe warmest friendship has ever prevailed.The two were classmates when they at-
tended high school, since which time they
have labored for each other's interests, and
as stated above, their attachment is stronger
and more enduring than the ordinary ties
by which friends are bound together. Mr.
Hull has served the people of his city as
School Director, and for a period of two
years he was president of the Inter-State In-
dependent Telephone Association, besides
being for a number of years a member of
the executive committee. He also served fora series of years on the executive commit-
tee for the operators on the scale of agree-
ment, with the United Mine Workers of
America, a position of great responsibility
and delicacy, as is indicated by the fact of
his having devoted one hundred and twelve
days in one year to the settlement of wagescales and of disputes between the contend-
ing parties, besides having been called upon
repeatedly to adjust differences and har-
monize conflicting interests, which arose
from time to time, between the two organi-zations.
The domestic chapter in the life of Mr.Hull dates from May 10, 1883, when hewas happily married to Miss Lulu Ham-
mond, the accomplished and popular daugh-ter of Hon. J. E. W. Hammond, thelatter a prominent merchant and influential
politician of Marion county, Illinois, whoserved in the Legislature, on the CountyBoard of Supervisors, and for many years
was one of the public spirited men and rep-resentative citizens of Salem. On hermother's side Mrs. Hull traces to the Lov-
ells and Hensleys, who were among the
earliest settlers of Marion county, as is men-
tioned elsewhere in this volume. Senator
Hull's beautiful and attractive home on
North Broadway, the finest and most de-
sirable private dwelling in the city, is
brightened and rendered doubly attractive
by the presence of two intelligent and in-
teresting daughters, namely: Lovell, born
January 8, 1888, and Louise, whose birth
occurred on the 3ist day of May, 1897,these with their parents constituting a happy
and almost ideal domestic circle.
Senator Hull's fraternal association rep-
resents the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks', the Knights of Pythias, Inde-
pendent Order of Red Men, and the Modern
Woodmen, in all of which he has been an
active and influential worker, besides being
honored with important official positions
from time to time. In the midst of his
many strenuous duties as a business man
and public servant, the Senator has not neg-lected the higher obligations which man
owes to his Maker, nor been unmindful of
the claims of the Christian religion to
which deep and absorbing subject he has
devoted much profound study and investi-
gation, and in the light of which he has
been led into the straight and narrow waywhich leads to a higher state of being here,
and to eternal felicity beyond death's mys-
tic stream. Subscribing to no human
creeds or man-made doctrines, he takes the
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
Holy Scriptures alone for his rule of faith
and practice, and as an humble and consist-
ent member of the Christian, or Disciple,
church, demonstrates by his daily life the
beauty and value of the faith which he pro-
fesses. He has been identified with the re-
ligious body since his young manhood, and
for more than twenty years has been the able
and popular superintendent of the Sunday
school, besides filling other official stations.
Mrs. Hull is also a faithful and devout
Christian, an active member of the church,
and deeply interested in all lines of goodwork under the auspices of the same. Since
her fourteenth year she has been the accom-
plished organist of the congregation in Sa-
lem, as well as an efficient and enthusiastic
teacher in the Sunday school. Senator Hull
is a liberal contributor to benevolent enter-
prises, and it was through his initiation and
influence that the present handsome templeof worship used by the Christian church,
was erected, his contributions to the build-
ing fund being twenty-five dollars for every
one hundred dollars contributed by the con-
gregation. In addition to his munificence
already noted, the Senator has given largely
to various worthy objects of which the
world knows nothing, in this way exempli-
fying the spirit of the Master, by not lettingthe left hand know what the right hand
doeth, or in other words, doing goodin secret in the name of the Father who
hath promised to reward such actions
openly.
Senator Hull is a splendid specimen of
well rounded, symmetrically developed, vi-
rile manhood, with a commanding presenceand a strong personality, being six feet in
height, weighing two hundred and thirty-four pounds, and moving among his fellows
as one born to leadership. He is a notice-able figure in any crowd or assemblage, and
never fails to attract attention, not only byhis powerful physique, but by the amiable
qualities of mind and heart, which show in
his face, and always make his presence pleas-
ing to all beholders. He has directed hislife along lines which could not fail to ef-
fect favorably the physical as well as the
mental man, having from his youth been
singularly free from thoughts which lower
and degrade self-respect, and from those in-
siduous habits which pollute the body and
debase the soul, and which today are prov-
ing the destruction of so many young men
of whom better things have been expected.Mr. Hull is a total abstainer in all the term
implies, having never tasted, much less taken
a drink of any kind of intoxicants, nor used
tobacco in any of its forms; neither has he
ever taken the name of God in vain. He is
pleasing and companionable, a favorite in
the social circle, and a hale and hearty spirit,
whose presence inspires good humor, and
who believes in legitimate sports and pas-times and in the idea that fret and worryare among the greatest enemies of happi-ness. With duties that would crush the ordi-
nary man, he has his labors so systematized
that he experiences little or no inconveni-
ence in doing them. He believes in rest andrecreation and is an advocate of vacations,
and he invariably takes one every summer,
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HIGHLAND. CLAY AND MARION CO1/XTIES, ILLINOIS.
but not in the manner that many do, by
locking his office and hieing away to the
seaside, lake or forest, to spend the season
in tiresome sports. His vacations, which
are always enjoyable, are spent in the hay-
field, where he finds the recreation condu-
cive to good health and a contented mind.
Personally Mr. Hull is a gentleman of
unblemished reputation, and the strictest in-
tegrity and his private character and im-
portant trusts have always been above re-
proach. He is a vigorous as well as an
independent thinker, a wide reader, and he
has the courage of his convictions upon all
subjects which he investigates. He is also
strikingly original and fearless, prosecuteshis researches after his own peculiar fash-
ion, and cares little for conventionalism or
for the sanctity attaching to person or place
by reason of artificial distinction, tradition
or the accident of birth. He is essentiallycosmopolitan in his ideas, a man of the peo-
ple in all the term implies, and in the best
sense of the word a representative type of
that strong American manhood, which
commands and retains respect by reason of
inherent merit, sound sense and correct con-
duct. He has so impressed his individualityupon his community as to win the confidence
and esteem of his fellow-citizens and be-
come a strong and influential power in lead-
ing them to high and noble things.Measured by the accepted standard of ex-
cellence, his career, though strenuous, has
been eminently honorable and useful, and
his life fraught with great good to his fel-
lows and to the world.
WILLIAM H. DILLMAN.
William H. Dillman, the well known
president of the Clay County State Bank at
Louisville, Illinois, was born in Oskaloosa
township, on the family homestead, where
he grew to manhood. The date of his birth
was July 14, 1867. He is the son of Louis
Dillman, a native of Kentucky, who came
to Illinois when fourteen years old and set-
tled in Oskaloosa township on a farm,
where he lived for many years. He is now
retired, making his home in Louisville. Hewas formerly president of the State Bank
and is well known in the county as a man
of much ability. Vachel Dillman, grand-father of the subject, was also a native of
Kentucky, who came to this state at an
early day and developed a good farm. The
subject's mother was Harriett B. Smith,
whose people were natives of Tennessee,
where she was born. She is still living.
Eleven children were born to the subject's
parents, namely: Dr. Asa E., of Steuben,
Wisconsin; Mrs. Mary E. Graham, of Os-
kaloosa township; Mrs. Sarah E. Burdick,
of Oskaloosa township; William H., our
subject; Dr. J. V., at Ingraham, Illinois;
Lillie M., now deceased; Mrs. Ida Steeley,a i Louisville, this county ; Mrs. Delia Mont-
gomery, also of Louisville; Dora, deceased;
Polly Ann, deceased; Henry, deceased.
William H. Dillman was united in mar-
riage in 1898 to Cora P. Brown, the refined
r.nd accomplished daughter of P. P. Brown,
of Louisville, Illinois, and two children have
been born to this union, namely : Howard B.
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND KK.M IN ISCKNT HISTORY OF
and Robert V., ten and five years old re-
spectively at this writing, 1908, both bright
and interesting lads.
Mr. Dillman acquired a good common
school education, and after spending three
years at the State Normal, at the Union
Christian College of Merom, Indiana, and
at the Orchard City College at Flora, Illi-
nois, where he graduated with honors, Mr.
Dillman entered the law office of Hagle &
Shriner in that city, and in 1896 was ad-
mitted to the bar, since which time he has
been ranked as one of the leading lawyers of
Clay county, and has built up an excellent
business, practicing in all the courts in this
and adjoining counties with great success.
When Judge Farmer, now one of the Su-
preme Judges of the state of Illinois, was on
the bench of this, the Forty-second Senato-
rial District, he selected Mr. Dillman as the
Master in Chancery of this county. Later
on, upon the death of William H. Hudelson,
Mr. Dillman, by the terms of the will, was
made the executor, the will conveying to
him in trust for twenty years money and
property representing over two hundred
thousand dollars. No better testimony ofconfidence in a man's integrity has ever
been paid to a citizen of this county. Mr.
Dillman was Master in Chancery for six
years. The directors of the Clay CountyState Bank elected him president of that
institution in the summer of 1908.He was the Democratic nominee for Rep-
resentative from this district in 1908, but
was defeated. He has always been a stanchDemocrat and has taken an active part in
his county's affairs. Fraternally he is a
member of the Knights of Pythias, the In-
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the HomeCircle. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dillman are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Dillman, busy with the managementof the bank, which he gives the most care-
ful attention and which is regarded as one
of the solidest banks of the southern part
of the state, finds insufficient time to carry on
his law practice, although it is not entirely
abandoned. Mr. Dillman throughout his ca-
reer has been very active, progressive and de-
termined, carrying forward in successful
completion whatever he has undertaken in a
business way. Mr. Dillman attributes a
very large measure of his success to his
many and faithful friends. He is clearlyentitled to be classed among the leading citi-
zens of Clay county a man whose strong
individuality is the strength of integrity, vir-
tue and deep human sympathy and no one
has more friends than he throughout the
district.
H. T. PACE.
A happy combination of characteristics ispossessed by the honorable gentleman of